CERT-In Issues Security Warning To Millions Of Android Users In India
If you are one of the million Android phone users in India, the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has issued an important security warning that needs to be taken seriously. The very serious warning issued by the security agency does not apply to just one but several versions of Android, including older ones. The post was published earlier this month.
The warning states that the vulnerability could allow attackers to access your phone, who could steal data or even take control of the device. “A number of vulnerabilities have been reported in Android that could be exploited by an attacker to obtain sensitive data, gain additional privileges, and cause a denial of service on the targeted system,” CERT-In explains in its post.
The vulnerability affects several versions of Android, but luckily Google still provides security support for all versions. CERT-In mentions that Android versions 10, 11, 12, 12L and even 13 are vulnerable to the problem and users are advised to update their phone’s software immediately. These are the most popular versions of Android on the market, and in India, where Android is used by more than 95 percent of smartphone users, that means the security risk is relevant to millions in the country.
The agency says that if a hacker gains control of these devices, they can:
– Retrieve personal information such as password, photos and payment information
– Full control of the device
– Capable of installing malicious applications
The agency appears to have alerted Google to the issue, and the company has been working with the Android security team to find a solution. It has published an Android security bulletin for August 2023 with more information. To update your phone to the latest available Android version, follow these steps:
– Go to your Android phone settings
– Scroll down to Software Update
– Check for updates
– Install if a pop-up appears on the screen
– Protect your phone by restarting the device
